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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that it has launched an investigation into DR Congo’s use of allegedly ineligible players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a move that could potentially reopen Nigeria’s path to the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, PUNCH Online reports.
DR Congo eliminated Nigeria in the African play-offs last November after a 4–3 penalty shoot-out win in Morocco, ending the Super Eagles’ chances of advancing to the FIFA intercontinental play-off.
The Congolese team was subsequently given a bye into the final of the intercontinental play-off, where they are set to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica. However, concerns over player eligibility have now cast doubt on their participation at that stage.
Reports indicate that between six and nine DR Congo players who switched national allegiance may not have fully met eligibility requirements under Congolese law before representing the country.
While FIFA reportedly cleared the players because they possessed valid DR Congo passports, it is alleged that they did not formally renounce their previous citizenships, a requirement under the Central African nation’s constitution, which prohibits dual nationality.
“NFF has done the needful,” a member of the federation’s executive board told PUNCH Online. “Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and about six to nine players had that status during the play-off. That is the loophole we are exploring. Our lawyers must have submitted the relevant documents to FIFA as well.”
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, also confirmed that the federation has flagged the issue to FIFA.
“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality,” Sanusi said. “Wan-Bissaka has a European passport; some of them have French passports, others Dutch passports. The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.
“FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible, and that is why they were cleared,” he explained. “But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not FIFA’s responsibility to enforce Congo’s domestic regulations; FIFA acts based on what is submitted to it. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent.”
The development has reignited Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, following the country’s absence from Qatar 2022 and now facing the possibility of missing back-to-back tournaments.
DR Congo has only appeared once at the FIFA World Cup, in 1974, when the nation was then known as Zaire.
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